Glossary Details – Lecythidaceae

Glossary Details:

Title: The development of hypogeous fruits. Photos by S. A. Mori.

Description: The development of hypogeous fruits of Trifolium subterraneum based on an unvouchered plant from the Gargano Peninsula, Italy. A. Plant in flower and not yet pollinated. B. After fruit set the peduncles bend to the ground. C. The flowers reflex toward the base of the inflorescence to form an arrow head shape that probably facilitates the entry of the fruits into the ground. D. Adventitious roots develop from the apex of the inflorescence which may pull the the fruits into the ground. Determination by B. Gibbons.

Term:

Hypogeous fruits

Definition:

Immature fruits that penetrate the ground where they develop to maturity, the best examples are the hypogeous fruits of the peanut () and other legumes.